ACTA: A guide to the treaty from ZDNet

What is ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement? The international legislation is an intensely contentious document. Drawn up mostly behind closed doors, its purpose is to harmonise intellectual-property enforcement around the world and cut down on counterfeiting and commercial-scale piracy. Why does it matter? Critics say its wording could be used to target individual infringers of copyright and even dampen free speech.

This ZDNet guide to ACTA outlines the positions of its supporters and its critics, discusses what's new and how its ratification could affect the great copyright-versus-technology debate.